The SMPD constructed their hot zone using 17 Wi-Fi cells from Tropos Networks in a mesh configuration in downtown San Mateo. With the Wi-Fi cells, the SMPD was able to create a reliable, large-scale Wi-Fi network that would have otherwise been economically and logistically unfeasible. The department also has plans to further expand the hot zone with the ultimate goal of covering the city's critical crime areas so that police officers have access to information anytime, anywhere within their beats.
Once complete, the SMPD also plans to allow fire, public works and other city departments to have access with VPN sessions to the large Wi-Fi network. In total, the department will deploy nearly 40 Wi-Fi cells.
"Our Wi-Fi network now allows officers to take their office mobile," said SMPD Chief Susan E. Manheimer. "It extends to patrol cars access to multiple, secure police databases that were previously restricted to use in the police station. It also allows officers to send reports from their cars to the station, eliminating the need to leave their assigned beats. Because our officers now have broadband access to critical information, they can more quickly solve crimes in our community."
Using laptops in their police cars, including the Incident Commander's vehicle and the Mobile Command Center, SMPD officers now have wireless broadband access to LAWNET, a countywide intranet for law enforcement that connects officers to the Amber Alert System, the Sex Offender Database and other databases.
